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Executive Women's Symposium
Executive Women shaping the path to the Future of Work
About the Event
​​The 2025 Chicago Women’s Symposium united trailblazers, change makers, and rising women leaders and allies working in aviation, transportation, municipal government and business to champion the advancement of themselves and peers. Creating a stronger future starts with investing in everyone at the table.​
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The event took place in Chicago, IL, August 7–8, 2025, as ACS Firm’s Future of Work (FOW) Events proudly presented the inaugural Chicago Women’s Symposium. This two-day event offered a dynamic and supportive space for women to complete assessments, identify strengths, voice challenges, ideate around solutions, and co-create actionable goals for advancement.
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Executive women are shaping the future of work– driving innovation, fostering inclusive workplaces and redefining what leadership looks like. Their influence is pivotal in navigating the evolving business landscape and building resilient organizations. Whether you're an established executive or an emerging leader, this symposium was designed to empower, connect, and catalyze your growth.​​
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Event Details :
This event was limited to 65 Attendees
Location: The Drake Oak Brook, IL
When: August 7th, 8:00am - August 8th 4:00PM
Registration Closed: Wednesday, July 30th
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Who Attended:
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Leadership, Senior, and Middle Management
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C-suite Executives
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Directors
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Managers
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Human Resource Professionals
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Allies of women’s growth
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Professionals aiming to improve their competencies and invested in expanding their cultural development
THE EVENT WAS DESIGNED FOR ATTENDEES IN:
Keynote Speaker
Eileen M. Vélez-Vega, P.E.
Former: Secretary of Puerto Rico Department of Transportation & Public Works
Current: Strategic Infrastructure Director – Kimley-Horn
As Secretary she served as the chair of the Aviation Council of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) at the national level. She was also appointed to serve in the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) Transforming Transportation Advisory Committee (TTAC), where she worked as an advisor to U.S. Secretary of Transportation, Hon. Pete Buttigieg.
Recently, she received recognition when she was inducted into the exclusive group of citizens at the Sabana Grande History Museum in her hometown of Sabana Grande. And in summer 2024, she became the first Puerto Rican to be inducted in the Space Camp Hall of Fame class of 2024.
In February 2025, Eileen rejoined Kimley-Horn as Strategic Infrastructure Director where she will build on Kimley-Horn’s efforts to shape the future of transportation, public works, and infrastructure development across the US, Caribbean, and Puerto Rico.
Hear Eileen discuss the topic of "Managing Life: Work, Personal, & Importance of Developing Relationships".
Our Committee
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Keynote Speaker
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Executive Evaluation Experience
01
Panel Discussion
05
Collaborative Working Group Sessions
Unlimited
Opportunities for Individual Growth
Designed for Transformation, Not Just Inspiration
The 2025 Chicago Women’s Symposium wasn't just another industry event—it was a hands-on, transformational experience designed to build executive-level competencies. Through a combination of hands-on evaluations, personalized assessments, learning, ideation, and goal setting, participants left with more than inspiration—they left with a roadmap.
This immersive environment offered a unique opportunity to gain a personalized action plan for continuous growth, development and career acceleration.
Executive Planning Committee
This event content was collaboratively curated and backed by the partnership with the Executive Planning Committee to drive innovation and transformative change in the future of work.
Keynote Speaker
Visionary Leader Driving Innovation and Transformative Change in the Future of Work
Evaluation Center
Participants engaged in interactive, executive-level, competency-based exercises and evaluations designed to provide valuable insight into each participant’s strengths and areas for development. Results were shared privately and individually to support personalized reflection and growth.
Panel Discussion
Engaging discussion with leaders on the Future of Work as it relates to women and their positions in leadership.
Workshops and Training sessions
Experiential sessions led by expert facilitators in professional level evaluation and development. These sessions provided participants with opportunities to reflect deeply about their strengths, areas for growth, and the unique value they bring to an organization. The culmination of the various sessions allowed participants to build toward practical skills in various executive level competencies including strategic thinking and positioning, communication, leadership, and networking– all aimed at elevating their careers.
Networking
Opportunities for attendees to interact during sessions, breaks, and the evening social to share ideas and form connections.
Event Schedule
8:00am-8:30am
Welcome
8:30am-11:30am
Evaluation Center: Group Exercises
"Competency-Based Exercises and Evaluation"
1:00pm-2:15pm
Session 1: Working Group
"Being an Executive of a Different Generation:
Facilitators: Cyndi Stafford - Stafford HR Consulting
Joe Pierce - ACS Firm & FoW
2:30pm-3:30pm
Session 2: Panel Discussion
"Developing Command Presence: Managing Situations, Leadership, & Boards"
Moderator: Lorena de Rodriguez - AirTera
Panelists: LaJoia Broughton - Columbia Metropolitan Airport
Maria Doughty - The Chicago Network
4:30pm-5:00pm
Cocktails
5:00pm-6:00pm
Keynote:
"Managing Life: Work, Personal, & the Importance of Cultivating Relationship"
Speaker: Eileen Vélez-Vega, P.E.
Former: Sec. of Transportation - Puerto Rico
Current: Strategic Infrastructure Director - Kimley-Horn
6:00pm-8:30pm
Welcome Networking Dinner & Entertainment
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